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Jorge Mester to conduct Pasadena Master Chorale concert in January

Jorge Mester, the former music director of the Pasadena Symphony, will conduct a concert featuring parts of Mozart's "Requieum" and other pieces with the Pasadena Master Chorale in January.

The concert, titled "Life of Mozart," will take place at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at First Congregational Church in Pasadena. The program will also feature Mozart's overture from "La Clemenza di Tito" and "Ave Verum Corpus."

As part of the concert, actor Dan Selon will portray Mozart by sharing excerpts from the composer’s letters and writings. Soloists will include soprano Krystle Casey, tenor Arthur Rishi and baritone Abdiel Gonzalez.

Mester left the Pasadena Symphony this year under uncertain circumstances. The conductor's representative has said he was fired from the company while orchestra management has maintained that he quit. He has declined to speak publicly about his departure from Pasadena

The Pasadena Master Chorale is led by artistic director Jeffrey Bernstein, who served as assistant conductor for the Pasadena Symphony from 2005 to 2010. In May, Bernstein told the Times that the Pasadena Symphony leaders' contention that Mester quit was inaccurate.

"I think they've made a scapegoat of him," Bernstein said.

Mester, who lives in Southern California, holds positions with the Louisville Symphony and Naples Philharmonic.

— David Ng

Photo: Jorge Mester with members of the Pasadena Symphony. Credit: Ann Johansson / For The Times.